Glossary - MTA.info

Glossary
A weighting The system of modifying measured sound pressure levels to simulate the
actual response of the human ear to different sound frequencies.
Access-A-Ride NYCT’s shared-ride, door-to-door paratransit service for people with
disabilities.
Accessibility A measure of the ability or ease of all people to travel among various
origins and destinations.
ACHP Federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (see below).
ACM Asbestos-containing material.
ACOE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act.
ADA compliant Pedestrian corridor constructed to comply with design standards
passageway established in the Americans with Disabilities Act
A Division train The type of NYCT subway used on all numbered routes (1 2 3 4 5
6 7 9) and the Times Square shuttle (S). A Division cars are
narrower, shorter, and have less capacity than B Division cars.
Advisory Council An independent Federal agency established by the National Historic
on Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) to advise the President and Congress
Preservation on historic preservation matters. It reviews policies and programs of
(ACHP) Federal agencies to improve their consistency with NHPA purposes, and
administers and participates in the preservation review process
established by Section 106 of the NHPA. Under Section 106, federal
agencies must seek the Council’s comments prior to carrying out,
approving financial assistance to, or issuing a permit for a project that
may affect properties listed or eligible for listing on the National
Register of Historic Places.
AFT MTA’s “Arts for Transit” program.
Air pollution The presence of unwanted material in the air in sufficient amount and
under such circumstances as to interfere significantly with human
comfort, health, or welfare, or with full use and enjoyment of property.
National and state ambient air quality standards identify pollutant
concentrations not to be exceeded over a specified time.
Alignment The route of a highway, railroad, or fixed guideway transit.
Alternatives A study conducted pursuant to the Federal Transit Administration’s
Analysis requirements for new transit projects.
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Second Avenue Subway FEIS
Ambient air quality A physical and chemical measure of the concentration of various
pollutants in the outside air, usually determined over a specified time
period (e.g., 1 hour, 8 hours).
Ambient air quality See National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
standards
Ambient noise level The total noise level in the acoustical environment, excluding the
proposed project.
AM peak hour The hour during the morning during which the largest number of
commuters travel to work. In Manhattan, the AM peak hour is typically
the 8-9 AM morning rush hour.
AM peak period Peak morning travel period (usually from 6 AM to 10 AM).
Anadromous Used to describe fish that migrate up rivers from the sea to breed in
freshwater.
APE Area of Potential Effect (see below).
Aquatic biota Include phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and fish.
Area of Potential An APE is the geographic area within which a project may have a direct
Effect (APE) or indirect effect on historic or archaeological resources, if any are
present.
Arterial Streets that serve primarily through traffic and provide access to abutting
properties as a secondary function.
Articulated bus A 60-foot-long bus that bends in the middle with capacity for up to 90
passengers. Articulated buses have 50 percent more capacity than a
standard bus (which has a 60-passenger capacity).
As-of-right Development that could occur on a parcel of land under existing zoning
and without the granting of additional approvals.
AST Above-ground storage tank.
B Division train The type of NYCT subway used on all lettered routes except the Times
Square shuttle (S) —i.e., A B C D E F G J L M N Q RVWZ
and Franklin Shuttle (S). B Division cars are wider, often longer, and
have more capacity than A Division cars.
Bellmouth A widening of a railroad tunnel to provide for a future branch
connection.
Benthic Invertebrate organisms that inhabit river bottom sediments and
invertebrates submerged objects.
Bentonite A natural, clay-like, mineral used in liquid slurry to facilitate the
construction of concrete retaining walls.
BID Business Improvement District.
Bishop’s crook An ornamental street lighting fixture characterized by a curved and
intricate “gooseneck” design.
Glossary - 2
Glossary
Blast shaft Shafts located outside a subway platform that relieve the air pressure
caused when trains enter and leave a station.
BMT Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit (see below).
British Thermal A measure of energy used to compare consumption of energy from
Unit (BTU) different sources, taking into consideration how efficiently those sources
are converted to energy. One BTU is the quantity of heat required to
raise the temperature of one pound of water by one Fahrenheit degree.
Broadway Line The subway line running generally beneath Broadway in Manhattan,
entering from Queens at 59th Street (with the first stop at Lexington
Avenue). Currently served by QWNR.
Brooklyn- A formerly privately operated New York subway company. The BMT
Manhattan Transit merged with the IND and IRT in 1940 to form the current system.
(BMT)
BTEX Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, which are volatile organic
compounds that are common constituents of gasoline.
Build year The year of analysis used to assess impacts; 2020 is the Build year for
this project. Generally this is a point after the project has been completed
and ridership has settled into new patterns.
Bump out Location where a sidewalk is widened into a street’s parking lane.
Bus bunching A common condition affecting bus operations, where two or more buses
arrive at a bus stop within minutes or seconds of each other, followed by
a significant period of time until the next bus arrives.
CAAA Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (see below).
Caisson A structure used in underwater work, consisting of an airtight chamber,
open at the bottom, and containing sufficient air pressure to keep out
water.
CAL3QHC model Mathematical dispersion model for predicting air pollution by simulating
carbon monoxide concentrations near roadway intersections.
Canal Flip The term for a subway option explored in the MESA Study that would
have “flipped,” or crossed, the Broadway Line express and local tracks
at Canal Street, allowing new MESA subway trains to continue south to
Broad Street in Lower Manhattan. The Second Avenue Subway does not
include the Canal Flip.
Capacity The physical ability of a transportation system, or any of its elements, to
carry travelers from one point to another.
Capital costs The cost of designing, constructing, purchasing equipment (e.g.,
vehicles), and implementing a transit system.
Catadromous Used to describe fish that live in freshwater but migrate to marine waters
to breed.
CBD Central Business District (see below).
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Second Avenue Subway FEIS
CBTC Communication-Based Train Control (see below).
Center island A subway or train platform with tracks on both sides.
platform
Central Business A CBD is a primary downtown area of a city, or an area of concentrated
District (CBD) retail activity. Also characterized by high land valuation and traffic flow.
CEPP Construction Environmental Protection Program (see below).
CEQR City Environmental Quality Review, the local New York City law set
forth by Executive Order No. 91 of 1977, governing environmental
review for actions undertaken by New York City agencies.
Clean Air Act A federal law enacted in 1990 that places new federal controls on all
Amendments of sources of air pollution and places new emphasis on regional
1990 (CAAA) transportation planning. The CAAA includes an implementation strategy
and establishes air quality improvement requirements.
CMS Congestion Management System.
CO Carbon monoxide.
Coastal Zone A state initiative promulgated in accordance with federal requirements
Management designed to set policies for managing waterfront resources in the public
Program interest.
Coastal zone A geographic area of New York State’s coastal waters and adjacent
shorelines, generally including islands, tidal wetlands, beaches, dunes,
barrier islands, cliffs, bluffs, estuaries, flooding- and erosion-prone
areas, port facilities, and other coastal locations.
Combined sewer A sewer system that carries sanitary flow during dry weather and both
sanitary and storm water flows during wet weather.
Combined sewer A CSO is an outfall that discharges without treatment combined sanitary
outfall (CSO) sewage and storm water runoff into rivers, streams, bays, or the ocean.
Communication- Also known as “moving block” control, CBTC is a type of subway
Based Train signal system that uses an independent communication network to
Control (CBTC) determine safe subway train operation and permissible speeds for
following other trains. Currently being installed on the Canarsie Line
(L). Compare with fixed-block signal system, below.
Construction The document in which all project commitments and requirements
Environmental related to construction are incorporated. Its relevant provisions would be
Protection incorporated into construction contracts that contractors would be
Program (CEPP) obligated to follow.
Contextual district Within New York City’s Zoning Resolution, these districts (indicated by
a letter following the district number – e.g., the “B” in R8B) are mapped
where the prevailing visual character or “context” of a street relies on a
consistent building form.
Glossary - 4
Glossary
Controlled blasting A specialized construction technique used to excavate rock. Numerous
small holes are drilled into the rock and small explosive charges are
placed into the holes. The charges are detonated in a delayed sequence
that precisely breaks the rock and minimizes unwanted vibration and
noise effects.
Conventional A method of construction excavation that involves controlled drilling
mining and blasting. See Drill-and-blast mining, below.
CPC New York City’s City Planning Commission.
“Crush” capacity The maximum physical capacity of a subway train. The crush capacity
for A Division trains (see above) is 1,650 and for B Division trains (see
above) ranges from 2,010 to 2,300.
CSO Combined sewer outfall (see above).
Cut-and-cover A method of excavation whereby the construction takes place from the
ground surface. Once the excavation reaches a certain depth, the open
cut can be covered with a steel or concrete plate to enable traffic or
pedestrians to traverse the excavation while construction proceeds
below.
CZMA Federal Coastal Zone Management Act.
Daylighting A form of traffic management that involves daytime removal of parking,
particularly during peak travel periods, for a short distance (typically 50
to 100 feet) in order to reduce congestion at an intersection approach.
dB Decibel, a unit of sound level.
dBA A-weighted decibel. A sound pressure level that incorporates the human
ear’s sensitivity to pitch.
DCP New York City Department of City Planning.
Deadhead trips Term used to describe the trips made by buses or trains when they are
returning to their origin point and are not carrying passengers.
DEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Decibel (dB) The unit for measuring noise, which is 10 times the logarithm of the
ratio of the sound pressure squared to a standard reference pressure
squared.
Deep Chrystie An option for the Second Avenue Subway’s Water Street alignment
Option between Houston and Canal Streets that would involve constructing the
Second Avenue Subway beneath the B D tracks under Chrystie Street.
A transfer that would require changing platform levels would also be
provided. Compare with Shallow Chrystie Option, below.
DEIS Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
De minimis criteria The minimum incremental increase in 8-hour average carbon monoxide
levels that constitutes a significant adverse air quality impact as defined
by New York City.
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Second Avenue Subway FEIS
DEP New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
Desanding A process used to remove sand or silt from slurry before its reuse.
Determination of The decision of the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) on
Eligibility whether properties or resources are eligible for the State and/or National
Register of Historic Places.
Dewatering The removal of groundwater by pumping so as to artificially depress the
water table and avoid the difficulties associated with construction below
the water table.
DO Dissolved oxygen.
DOI U.S. Department of the Interior.
Drill-and-blast A type of conventional mining, where small holes are drilled in a rock
mining area, and explosives are inserted in each hole and detonated.
Dual bus lanes Curb lane and immediately adjacent travel lane reserved exclusively for
buses.
Dwell time The time when a train is fully stopped in a station to let passengers on
and off.
Earth-pressure- An EPBM is a type of tunnel boring machine (TBM) used in soil.
balance machine
(EPBM)
Easement The legal right to use a portion of another owner’s property. For
example, an underground tunnel easement would give the permanent
right for a subway tunnel to pass below private property.
East Side Access LIRR’s project to provide direct access for LIRR riders to Grand Central
(ESA) Terminal via a new tunnel from Sunnyside, Queens.
Ecosystem The entire system of organisms and the chemical and physical aspects of
the environment.
EDC New York City Economic Development Corporation.
EFH Essential Fish Habitat (see below).
EIS Environmental Impact Statement.
el Abbreviation for “elevated train line.”
Emulsion explosive A water-based explosive that is extremely insensitive to shock.
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
EPBM Earth-pressure-balance machine (see above).
ESDC Empire State Development Corporation, a New York State agency.
Essential Fish Defined by Congress as “those waters and substrata necessary to fish for
Habitat spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity.”
FAR Floor area ratio, the ratio of a building’s floor area to its lot size.
Glossary - 6
Glossary
FDNY Fire Department of New York City.
Federal Transit The federal department of mass transportation and the lead agency for
Administration the environmental review of this EIS. Administratively, the FTA is
(FTA) under the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).
Feeder bus routes Routes on which most passengers have a common origin or destination.
FEIS Final Environmental Impact Statement.
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FHWA Federal Highway Administration.
FIRE Finance, insurance, and real estate.
Fixed-block signal The signal system currently used to control subway operations. Each
system signal block is a section of track controlled by a particular set of signals.
Compare with CBTC, above.
Flexibility The adaptability of a transportation system to accommodate the travel
demands within the system if one component of the system fails, and its
ability to accommodate future growth.
Floating slab The addition of a second floor slab that is isolated from the first slab by
resilient elements which can be used to attenuate the transfer of vibration
from a tunnel to the building above.
Floodplain The lowlands adjoining the channel of a river, stream, or watercourse, or
ocean, lake, or other body of water, which have been or may be
inundated by floodwater (as established by the National Flood Insurance
Act).
Forsyth Street An option for the Second Avenue Subway’s Water Street alignment
Option between Houston and Canal Streets that would construct the Second
Avenue Subway east of the Sara D. Roosevelt Park underneath Forsyth
Street. This option would use the existing Confucius Plaza tunnel
segment for ancillary facilities and have a 200-foot-long passageway at
Grand Street between the Second Avenue Subway station under Forsyth
Street and the B D Grand Street Station.
FTA Federal Transit Administration (see above).
FWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
GCT Grand Central Terminal.
Grid bus routes Routes characterized by passengers boarding and exiting a bus
throughout the route.
Groundwater The water contained beneath the surface in soils and rock.
Guideline capacity The capacity of a subway train using New York City Transit’s guideline
capacity of 3 square feet per standing passenger. The guideline capacity
for A Division trains (see above) is 1,110 and for B Division trains (see
above) ranges from 1,400 to 1,450.
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Second Avenue Subway FEIS
HASP Health and Safety Plan.
Hazardous waste A substance, as defined under the federal Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, that is chemically reactive, ignitable, corrosive, or toxic.
Headway The time interval between consecutive transit vehicles (subways or
buses) that operate along the same route.
HHC New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.
High-occupancy A vehicle carrying two or more passengers (for example, a bus, vanpool,
vehicle or carpool). HOVs are encouraged as a means of decreasing vehicle
miles traveled (VMTs). May also be referred to as Multi-occupancy
Vehicle (MOV).
Hog house A facility located at a construction site where workers can shower and
wash.
HOV High-occupancy vehicle (see above).
HPD New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
(the) Hub The Midtown Central Business District (CBD) below 60th Street.
HUD U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
HVAC Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
IND Independent system (see below).
Independent A City owned and operated subway system (under Sixth and Eighth
system (IND) Avenues in Manhattan) constructed in the 1920s and 1930s. The IND
merged with the IRT and BMT in 1940 to form the current system.
Interborough A formerly privately operated New York subway company. The IRT
Rapid Transit merged with the IND and BMT in 1940 to form the current system.
(IRT)
Intermodal Surface Legislation enacted by Congress in 1991 that makes funds available to
Transportation aid metropolitan areas throughout the United States in the development
Efficiency Act of transportation systems that are not harmful to the environment and
(ISTEA) will bring metropolitan areas into compliance with the Clean Air Act.
ISTEA was superceded by TEA-21 (see below).
Intermodal A transfer from one mode of transportation (such as auto, taxi, bus, and
transfer walking) to another.
IRT Interborough Rapid Transit (see above).
ISO 14001 An internationally recognized environmental management system that
provides organizations with a structured approach for managing
environmental and regulatory responsibilities to improve overall
environmental performance, including areas not subject to regulation.
ISTEA Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (see above).
ITS Intelligent Transportation Systems.
Glossary - 8
Glossary
Jet grout A soil stabilization technique that involves drilling pilot holes, and then
injecting under pressure a mixture of cement, water, and air into the soil
via injection rods inserted into the pilot holes. As the rods are
withdrawn, they are rotated, resulting in a series of columns consisting
of a soil and cement grout mixture hardened to a strength suitable to
stabilize the soil, thereby allowing construction to occur underneath.
Ldn An average sound level over the entire day where the nighttime hours
are weighted more than those during the daytime.
Leq Equivalent sound level, or an energy average sound level, usually
specified over a period of time. This is the constant sound level that, in a
given period, conveys the same sound energy as the actual time-varying
sound.
Lmax Maximum instantaneous sound level.
LDC Local Development Corporation.
Leave-load A measure of subway crowding, based on a visual observation of people
in a subway car as a train exits a station.
Level of service A set of descriptive characteristics used to indicate the quality of
transportation service provided, including characteristics that are
quantifiable (e.g., frequency, travel time, vehicle delay). Levels of
service are usually qualified with letter designations, ranging from “A”
(LOS A) with the least amount of congestion to “F” (LOS F) with the
greatest amount.
Lexington Avenue The 4 5 and 6 subway routes that provide full north-south rapid
Line transit service to Manhattan’s East Side, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.
Light Rail Transit Electronically powered vehicles that operate on tracks on city streets and
(LRT) either share the roadway with autos or travel in separate rights-of-way.
Line haul capacity The number of trains and their passenger capacity that can pass through
a given point in the system.
LIRR MTA Long Island Rail Road.
Littoral zone All areas where water depths are shallower than 6 feet at mean low
water.
LMA MTA Lower Manhattan Access Study.
Local Waterfront A plan implemented under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act
Revitalization and the New York State Coastal Management Programs that sets forth
Program (LWRP) standard policies for reviewing projects and public actions proposed in a
locally designated Coastal Zone.
LOS Level of service (see above).
Lower Manhattan An analysis initiated by the MTA in 1997 to examine transportation
Access Study alternatives that would improve access from the New York City suburbs
(LMA) to Lower Manhattan.
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Second Avenue Subway FEIS
LPC New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
LRT Light-rail transit.
LUST Leaking underground storage tank.
LWRP Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (see above).
Manhattan East Begun in 1995, the MESA Study, sponsored by FTA and MTA, in
Side Transit coordination with NYCT, was part of MTA’s long-range planning to
Alternatives Study identify options for addressing the transportation problems and needs on
(MESA) Manhattan’s East Side.
Maximum load The point where the number of passengers on each bus route is the
point heaviest during a certain time period.
Maximum surge The point at which the maximum number of pedestrians are in a
condition particular crosswalk.
MCTA Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority. Now the MTA.
Mechanized mining A method of construction that uses tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) or
earth pressure balance machines (EPBMs) to excavate rock, soil, or both.
MESA Manhattan East Side Transit Alternatives (see above).
Metropolitan MPOs are tasked by ISTEA and TEA-21 with overseeing their
Planning metropolitan area’s compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality
Organization Standards (see below). NYMTC is the MPO for the New York
(MPO) metropolitan region.
Mined excavation A method of constructing tunnels or other underground spaces from
below the surface. Unlike cut-and-cover construction, the ground surface
is not disturbed with this technique. The mining may be accomplished in
a number of ways including drilling with controlled blasting, tunnel
boring machines, other methods of rock/soil excavation.
MIS Major Investment Study, an alternatives analysis conducted under
ISTEA (see above). MESA was a combined MIS and DEIS.
Mitigation Measures designed to lessen or eliminate the adverse impacts resulting
from a proposed project or action.
MLW Mean low water.
MOA Memorandum of Agreement.
MOBILE5B Vehicle emissions simulation model developed by the Environmental
Protection Agency to predict air pollution.
Mobile source Vehicular sources of air pollution, such as automobiles, trucks, and
buses.
Mode The form of travel (e.g., walking, automobile, bus, train).
MPO Metropolitan Planning Organization (see above).
MTA Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Glossary - 10
Glossary
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards (see below).
Nassau Street One of two possible alignment options for the Second Avenue Subway
Alignment south of Houston Street (the other is the Water Street Alignment). This
option would connect the Second Avenue Subway to the existing Nassau
Street Line (J M Z service) at Kenmare Street, just south of Houston
Street. It would bring new subway service to the heart of the Financial
District and allow the new service to continue into Brooklyn.
National Ambient Standards established by Congress under the Clean Air Act for six major
Air Quality air pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, photochemical
Standards oxidants or ozone, inhalable particulates, sulfur dioxide, and lead). These
(NAAQS) are also New York State’s air quality standards.
National Federal legislation enacted to require federal agencies to evaluate the
Environmental environmental consequences of proposed actions and their alternatives,
Policy Act (NEPA) to identify measures to mitigate any significant adverse impacts, and to
conduct the entire process in coordination with other agencies and the
public.
National Historic Statute enacted by Congress establishing a nationwide policy to support
Preservation Act of and encourage the preservation of prehistoric and historic resources and
1966 to direct Federal agencies to assume responsibility for considering such
resources in their activities. Section 106 of the Act does not mandate
preservation of such resources but requires Federal agencies to consider
the impact of actions on historic properties listed or eligible for listing on
the National Register of Historic Places.
National Register The federal list of buildings and sites determined to have historic
of Historic Places significance, established by the National Historic Preservation Act.
(N/R)
National Wetlands Established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to generate
Inventory information about the characteristics, extent and status of the nation’s
wetlands and deepwater habitats. NWI maps show the location and
classification of wetlands throughout New York State.
Natural Resources A plant and animal species and any area capable of providing habitat for
plant and animal species or capable of functioning to support ecological
systems and maintain environmental balance.
Neckdown A sidewalk widening at a bus stop.
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act (see above).
New Jersey Transit NJ Transit provides commuter service from points west by both bus and
(NJT) rail to New York City. Its bus operations terminate at Port Authority Bus
Terminal, and its rail operations at Penn Station.
NFPA National Fire Protection Association.
NHL National Historic Landmark.
NHPA National Historic Preservation Act (see above).
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Second Avenue Subway FEIS
NJT New Jersey Transit.
NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service.
NO2 Nitrogen dioxide; an air pollutant and precursor to ozone.
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
No Build Consists of the projects and improvements to be undertaken or
Alternative implemented by the NYCT before 2020 (the EIS’s analysis year),
regardless of whether the Second Avenue Subway is implemented.
Non-attainment The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s classification for
area an area or region where federal ambient air quality standards are not
being met.
NOX Nitrogen oxides; a group of air pollutants that contribute to the formation
of ozone.
NR National Register of Historic Places (see above).
NWI National Wetlands Inventory (see above).
NWP United States Army Corp of Engineers nationwide permit program.
NYCDEP New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
NYCDOT New York City Department of Transportation.
NYCDPR New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
NYCEDC New York City Economic Development Corporation.
NYCHA New York City Housing Authority.
NYCHPD New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
NYCL New York City Landmarks and Historic Districts.
NYCRR New York Codes, Rules and Regulations.
NYCT MTA New York City Transit.
NYMTC New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (the MPO).
NYPA New York Power Authority.
NYPD New York Police Department.
NYSDEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
NYSDOL New York State Department of Labor.
NYSDOS New York State Department of State.
NYSDOT New York State Department of Transportation.
NYSM New York State Museum.
NYU New York University.
Off-peak period The periods of the day that are not during the peak travel periods.
Glossary - 12
Glossary
OPRHP New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
OSHA U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Ozone An unstable form of oxygen formed by a photochemical reaction of
atmospheric gases with solar ultraviolet radiation. While a valuable
component of the upper atmosphere, it is a harmful air pollutant in the
lower atmosphere and contributes to the formation of smog.
PAC Public Advisory Committee.
PAH Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (see below).
PANYNJ Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
Particulate matter Airborne particles consisting of a variety of materials such as dust, soot,
and aerosols.
PATH Port Authority Trans Hudson, the underground fixed-rail transit service
operated by the Port Authority between New Jersey and New York.
PCB Polychlorinated biphenyl (see below).
PCE Passenger car equivalent.
PCPH Passenger car equivalents per hour.
Peak hour The hour during the morning and evening when the greatest number of
people travel to work. The morning peak hour in Manhattan is typically
8 to 9AM and the evening peak hour is 5 to 6 PM.
Peak period The period during which the maximum amount of travel occurs. It may
be specified as the morning (AM), afternoon/evening (PM) peak, or
hourly. It is the period when demand for transportation services is the
highest. In Manhattan, the peak periods are generally 6 to 10 AM and 3
to 7 PM.
Person-year The equivalent of one employee working full-time for one year.
PM peak hour The hour during the evening when the greatest number of people travel
to work. In Manhattan, the PM peak hour is typically the 5-6 PM
afternoon rush hour.
PM peak period The afternoon rush hours, approximately 4 to 7 PM.
PM10 Particulate matter of 10 microns or less. Particulates of this size are
small enough to be respirable.
PM2.5 Particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less. Particulates of this size show
consistent and coherent associations with severe health effects.
Polychlorinated A class of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) that were
biphenyls (PCB) commonly used in electrical equipment, especially transformers.
Exposure to PCBs can pose long-term risks to wildlife and human
health.
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Second Avenue Subway FEIS
Polycyclic aromatic Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of Semivolatile
hydrocarbons Organic Compounds (SVOCs) associated with combustion (e.g., coal,
(PAH) ash, petroleum) and have historically been used as fill throughout New
York City. Exposure to PAHs can pose long-term risks to human health.
Ppm Parts per million.
Primary The creation of new organic matter from inorganic substances.
production
Public Advisory A PAC comprises representatives from a number of elected officials’
Committee (PAC) offices and other interested parties that serve as a reviewing body of
project issues and primary liaison between organizations interested in the
project and the project team.
Receptor site A location chosen for analysis of air quality or noise. A receptor site is
near, but not at, the source of air pollution or noise being analyzed.
Redbird Name given for red-painted model of a subway car that is currently used
on A Division (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9) routes and planned to be retired
by the end of 2004.
Regional Transit MTA’s model to predict regional travel patterns and determine the travel
Forecasting Model modes used by the region’s commuters.
(RTFM)
Resilient fasteners Special fasteners that are used to connect the steel rail to the railroad tie
which helps to attenuate the vibration effects of the train into the
surrounding ground surface.
Ridership volume Total number of passengers riding trains regardless of the seated
capacities of the trains.
Right-of-way A corridor of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription, or
condemnation, and intended to be utilized as a road, rail line, utility
service, buffer, or similar use.
ROD Record of Decision, the federal lead agency’s findings on a project based
on an EIS prepared under NEPA.
Rolling stock Train or subway cars.
RPAD Real Property Assessment Database, a database of property information
prepared by the New York City Department of Finance.
RTFM Regional Transit Forecasting Model (see above).
RTP Regional Transportation Plan.
Rumble strip Typically bright-yellow-colored safety paving on the edge of a subway
platform.
SAS Second Avenue Subway
SAV Submerged aquatic vegetation.
Glossary - 14
Glossary
S-Curve A term used to describe the shape of a portion of the alignment in the
125th Street vicinity assessed as part of the Second Avenue Subway’s
MIS/DEIS but no longer under consideration.
S/NR State and National Registers of Historic Places.
Screen line A point at which volumes of transit passengers are calculated as they
enter the CBD.
Scoping The process of defining the studies to be undertaken for an
Environmental Impact Statement.
SDEIS Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Seated capacity The maximum number of passengers that can be accommodated on
trains without exceeding the number of seats.
Section 4(f) Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, which
prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from approving the use of any
publicly owned land from a public park, recreation area, or wildlife or
waterfowl refuge of national, state, or local significance; or any land
from a historic site of national, state, or local significance unless there is
no feasible and prudent alternative and all possible planning to minimize
harm has been incorporated.
Section 4(f) process A regulatory process initiated when a project proposes the use of land
from a publicly owned park, recreational area, wildlife or waterfowl
refuge area, or any historic site.
Section 4(f) Land contained in a publicly owned park, recreational area, wildlife or
property waterfowl refuge area, or any significant historic site.
Section 106 See National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
Section 197-a A section of the New York City Charter that authorizes community
boards and borough boards, as well as the mayor, the City Planning
Commission, the Department of City Planning, and any borough
president, to sponsor plans for the development, growth, and
improvement of the city, its boroughs, and communities.
SEL Sound Exposure Level.
Semi-volatile Organic compounds that exhibit some evaporation under normal
organic compound circumstances.
SEQRA New York State Environmental Quality Review Act. State legislation
similar to NEPA, requiring New York State agencies to examine the
environmental effects of their discretionary actions.
Shaft sites Excavated areas along the Second Avenue alignment where TBMs
would be installed and materials resulting from tunnel excavation
removed. Shaft sites would also be used by workers entering and leaving
the tunnel, and to transport construction materials into and out of the
tunnels.
Glossary - 15
Second Avenue Subway FEIS
Shallow Chrystie An option no longer under consideration for the Water Street Alignment
Option between Houston and Canal Streets that would involve constructing the
Second Avenue Subway alongside the BD tracks under Chrystie Street
and connecting to the existing tunnel beside Confucius Plaza. A cross-
platform transfer to the Sixth Avenue Line at the Grand Street Station
would also be provided. Compare with Deep Chrystie Option, above.
Shotcrete Pneumatically sprayed concrete.
SHPA New York State Historic Preservation Act of 1980.
SHPO State Historic Preservation Office (see below).
SIC Standard Industrial Classification.
SIP State Implementation Plan (see below).
Slurry A clay-like semi-solid pumped into a trench to form a slurry wall. The
slurry is then displaced by concrete pumped into the trench. Slurry
permits only minimal transmission of water and is used to isolate an area
from the surrounding groundwater regime and reduce the rate of
pumping required during dewatering.
Slurry wall Retaining wall constructed by excavating a wall area and then filling it
with a bentonite (clay-type) material to hold the ground in place and
prevent water infiltration until final concrete is pumped into the trench to
replace the bentonite and create the final retaining wall.
S/NR State and National Registers of Historic Places.
SO2 Sulfur dioxide; an air pollutant mainly associated with the combustion of
sulfur-containing fuels such as diesel and fuel oil.
Soil borings Deep, cylindrical soil samples taken to ascertain geological conditions
and often used to assist in the determination of whether archaeological
resources or hazardous materials are found on the site.
Sparging Agitation of a liquid by means of compressed air or gas injected through
a pipe removing contaminants through volatilization.
SPCC (40 CFR Spill Prevention, Containment, Countermeasure (see below).
110, 112)
SPDES New York State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. SPDES
(pronounced “SPEED-ies”) is a state permit program under Article 17,
Title 8, of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law to
protect the state’s waters from polluted discharges.
Special Purpose Particular neighborhoods or areas promulgated by New York City’s
Districts zoning code and intended to achieve specific planning and urban design
objectives.
Special Transit A district established in 1974 along Second Avenue to support
Land Use District construction of the Second Avenue Subway, requiring provision of
easements for transit use in designated locations.
Glossary - 16
Glossary
Spill Prevention, A federal policy established pursuant to (40 CFR Parts 110 and 112) that
Containment, limits discharges to navigable waters so as not to produce visible sheens.
Countermeasure
SR New York State Register of Historic Places.
Spoils Rock and soil excavated during mining.
Staging area An area from which certain construction activities (such as storage,
delivery of materials, layover of equipment) occurs.
State Historic The SHPO (pronounced “SHIP-oh”) is the state administrative agency
Preservation Office responsible for compliance with historic preservation rules, laws, and
(SHPO) regulations. In New York State, the SHPO is part of the OPRHP.
State A SIP is a state plan mandated by the Clean Air Act to bring an area into
Implementation compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for a given
Plan (SIP) air pollutant.
State Register of The state list of buildings and sites determined to have historic
Historic Places significance, established by the New York State Historic Preservation
Act.
State The state-wide plan that includes all projects in the Transportation
Transportation Improvement Program.
Implementation
Plan (STIP)
STIP State Transportation Implementation Plan (see above)
Stub-ended Tracks that terminate in the station, requiring a train to reverse direction
to exit the station.
Substation A component of the electrical power distribution system at which high
voltage power is converted to low voltage power.
Superblock Large city blocks that interrupt the street grid with major development
complexes.
SVOC Semi-volatile organic compound (see above). Organic compounds which
exhibit some evaporation under normal circumstances.
TAC Technical Advisory Committee (see below).
TBM Tunnel boring machine (see below).
TCLP Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure. A laboratory test used to
determine the hazardous characteristics of a solid waste or soil.
TDFM Transit Demand Forecasting Model (see below).
TDM Travel Demand Management.
Glossary - 17
Second Avenue Subway FEIS
TEA-21 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, adopted in May 1998.
This federal legislation makes funds available to aid metropolitan areas
in the development of transportation systems that are not harmful to the
environment and that will bring metropolitan areas into compliance with
the Clean Air Act.
Technical Advisory A TAC comprises representatives on the federal, state, and local level
Committee (TAC) that serve as liaisons to their respective organizations on technical
matters relating to the evolution of the project.
Third rail An electric conductor rail located alongside the running rail from which
power is supplied to the subway car by means of a sliding contact shoe
attached to the truck of electric equipment.
Throughput The number of trains that can safely pass through a given tunnel segment
in a particular time.
Thrust block A large piece of concrete fitted to the bend of a pipe to prevent the pipe
from moving as water flows through it.
TIP Transportation Improvement Program (see below).
Transfer mobility The measure of the efficiency of vibration transmission through the
ground, offering a means of predicting train and construction-induced
vibration levels in buildings prior to project construction.
Transit Demand NYCT’s model to predict transit routes that riders choose.
Forecasting Model
(TDFM)
Transportation As set forth by ISTEA and TEA-21, a TIP is a document prepared by the
Improvement Metropolitan Planning Organizations citing projects to be funded under
Program (TIP) federal transportation programs for a full-year period.
Transportation Transportation improvements that seek to maximize the utility of the
Systems current transportation investments without a major investment in new
Management facilities.
Alternative (TSM)
Tribeca An acronym for “triangle below Canal Street.” It is the area of
Manhattan bounded on the north by Canal Street, on the east by West
Broadway, on the west by West Street, and on the south by the site of the
World Trade Center.
Trip A single or one-way movement to or from a location.
Truck Trip A combined ingress and egress movement by truck.
TSM Transportation Systems Management (see above).
Tunnel boring A TBM is a large-diameter drill that excavates a circular tunnel section,
machine (TBM) custom designed and built for project-specific geology and for the
specific requirements of the project being constructed.
ULURP Uniform Land Use Review Procedure.
Glossary - 18
Glossary
UMEZ Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone.
Underpinning A construction technique that involves placing new foundations under an
existing building to allow construction to occur in the area of the original
foundations.
Uniform Act Federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition
Policies Act of 1970, and the Uniform Relocation Act Amendments of 1987
provide fair, uniform, and equitable treatment of persons displaced from
their homes, businesses, or farms by federal and federally assisted programs.
URA Urban Renewal Area.
USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
UST Underground storage tank.
v/c Volume-to-capacity ratio (see below).
VdB A unit of measure of vibration in decibels, which are distinct from noise
decibels.
Vehicle miles The total number of miles traveled by motor vehicles for a given area and
traveled time period.
VMT Vehicle miles traveled (see above).
VOC Volatile organic compound (see below).
Volatile organic A family of highly evaporative organic materials used in a variety of
compounds (VOC) industrial applications, such as paints and solvents and a major constituent
of petroleum-based fuels.
Volume The number of passengers or vehicles that can be accommodated by a train,
train platform, train tracks and tunnels, stairwell, mezzanine, bus, sidewalk,
or street’s traffic lanes (or combination of any of the previous).
Volume-to-capacity To determine the severity of crowding in a transportation system, volumes
ratio (v/c) (the amount of passengers or vehicles) are compared with capacities (the
ability of such a system to carry travelers from one point to another during a
specified time frame).
vph Vehicles per hour.
Water Street One of two possible alignment options for the Second Avenue Subway
Alignment south of Houston Street (the other is the Nassau Street Alignment option).
This option would involve the continuation of the new subway route
directly south from Houston Street via Chrystie or Forsyth Street, Chatham
Square, St. James Place, Pearl Street, and Water Street. It would bring
passengers to the eastern part of Lower Manhattan, to an area currently
without convenient subway service.
Wetlands Transitional land between terrestrial and aquatic systems, where the water
table is usually at or near the surface, or the land covered by shallow water.
WRP Waterfront Revitalization Program, Serving As New York City’s Coastal
Zone Management Program. See also LWRP.
Glossary - 19